Rin

Chapter 1

I took a deep breath and checked myself in the mirror; my eyes were puffy, nose red, and skin pale—the epitome of the grieving mistress. In truth, the King’s death didn’t come as a surprise to anyone in the court, least of all me, who had been the cause of it. 

 It had been my longest mission yet. Taking nearly two years of playing the maid, the dutiful lady in waiting, then the mistress, all to get within reach of King Zakia Agyros of Wreabbaroth. Nearly two years of pretending to be a mindless human with no more ambition than to climb the social ladder in this kingdom. Endless days of needlework and gossip intermixed with mind-numbing ceremonies, balls, and the occasional trip to a new castle. I was beyond tired of being stuffed into tiny corsets and skirts larger than the doorways. The regular use of citrus and lye to lighten my naturally dark hair had begun to irritate my scalp, and the inability to use magic at will had begun to irritate the rest of me. 

 His death couldn’t come in cold blood, which was my preferred method. Too many politics were at risk for such a thing, so instead, I had to bide my time until I could get close enough to add bits of various poisons to his food and drink. He needed to weaken slowly for it to appear natural. As a young and virile man, it took longer than I had hoped for them to work, but they did eventually do their job. 

 Tucking in a tendril of blond hair that had fallen loose from my coiffure, I pulled a handkerchief from my pocket before stepping out from behind the dressing curtain and back into the sea of mourners. The funeral itself was a drawn-out affair that culminated in the burning of the funeral pyre down in the sands of the desert as the sun set behind the city. Most of the court had just returned to the castle for the feasting and dancing portion of the event in celebration of the King’s life. I had hoped for some reprieve from the droning sadness. However, as the King’s most recent mistress, many courtiers felt the need to give me their condolences personally, and the conversations were getting tedious. It wouldn’t be long now, though, I reminded myself. The job was done, and all that was left to do was plan my escape. 

 The Queen, for her part, had remained stoic in the face of it all, even when Zackia had chosen me to reside by his deathbed in her place. Theirs was not a marriage of love but of duty, something that he often reminded me of in our time together. The queen had tolerated my presence as I’m sure she did several mistresses before me. Like most rulers on the continent, it was common for the men of power to take a number of women aside from their bound partner, often it was seen as a status symbol. Women, on the other hand, were viewed as ruined for the same thing, an unfairness that grated on my nerves. 

 Queen Isla Agyros was a formidable woman with beauty, poise, and cutthroat dominance that I appreciated. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if there were a bounty on my head before sunrise, but then a faked death would be an easy enough way out of here. 

 “Excuse me, Lady Elnora,” One of the Queen’s younger ladies in waiting appeared before me. Jumping back as if startled, I took the young girl in; she wore a plain black shift dress with her hair pulled back behind a black lace band. I knew her as one of the queen’s many nieces, though I couldn’t remember which one she was for the life of me. I flagged a passing servant who carried a large bottle of wine and looked back at the girl who stood nervously, wringing her hands and looking anywhere but at me. 

 “Yes, darling?” I crooned, clutching my hand to my chest. 

 “The Queen, in her kindness, has prepared a wagon to take you back to the Dewhorte family home this evening,” she said, still staring at the floor. 

 “But the funeral has only just ended, and I haven’t packed a thing.” I tried to make my voice strained, but this was working out all too perfectly in my favor. “It’s nearly the middle of the night, for goodness’ sake.”

 “My sister and I would be happy to assist you, Milady.” She gave an awkward curtsy, and I eyed a gangly-looking girl behind her, who appeared very interested in something on the floor. Beyond them, the Queen stood surrounded by a group of ladies, a triumphant smirk spread across her regal face. 

 “Well,” I said heavily. “I suppose I don’t have much of a choice then.” I let my voice crack as I turned away, biting my knuckle and hiding my smile. Unbeknownst to her Highness, she had just secured the easiest escape I had ever had. The server approached with my wine, and I scooped it up as I led the way out of the dining hall, the girls scuttling behind.

 **

 My private rooms were set on the top floor on the opposite side of the castle, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of court life. The King was a little disappointed when I refused a set of rooms adjoining his but was understanding enough of my need for privacy. The rooms were comfortable and quiet, the most privacy I had ever had in my life. These rooms might be the only part of this entire mission that I would miss. 

It was no time at all before cheap wooden trunks were delivered at my door for the girls and I to load everything up. They worked quickly and efficiently, barely looking at me in the process, likely out of embarrassment for my predicament. I took care to flit around the room, acting worried and flustered, scooping up weapons I had hidden in various places along with my fighting leathers, boots, and other items not typically part of a noble lady’s belongings. Luckily, their averted eyes made it easy to stuff the conspicuous objects in bags and scares, unseen.

The girls took great care in folding the expensive dresses and carefully packing away the jewelry, though I watched them pilfer some of the nicer pieces that were given to me by the King. The Queen I’m sure would appreciate them finding their way back to the royal collection. 

While King Zakia was leaving behind a vastly wealthy kingdom, he was leaving it without a legitimate heir. He had named his wife his successor, but there was little faith that she would hold the throne long. Many of the High Lords of Wreabarroth did not believe a woman was capable of leading a kingdom, and others coveted the throne for themselves. There would be an internal power struggle that would, with any hope, cripple the country for some time. She would need every penny she could pilfer for the battle ahead. 

An hour or so later, the whole group accompanied me down to the stables, where the footmen loaded my belongings onto a dilapidated-looking carriage, and the girls said their goodbyes. Dragging the corners of my mouth down, I swiped a finger under my eye as if dashing away a tear. It was important to remain distraught at the idea of being sent away in such shambles. The girls, to their credit, looked guilty and gave me words of encouragement as I climbed into the cabin of the carriage, still in my mourning clothes. They shut the door on me, and the carriage started its rickety movement out of the city. 

We had barely made it out of the castle gates when I pulled out the bag I had stuffed with my gear. I ripped off the ridiculous dress and corset as quickly as possible before slipping into my fighting leathers. It was like coming up for air after diving into deep water; it had been so long since I had donned them. There was some muscle loss, causing the leather to hang loose in places while pulling tight in others. It didn’t matter, though; they were enchanted and a moment later they morphed to fit my figure like they were painted on. 

Castle Kielossi, the Agyros Families’ main residence, was built on the edge of a cliff face overlooking the Boreagor desert. It had been meant to be a place of rest and relaxation for the ruling family several generations ago, but people had flocked to the home, and the city of Bernitra grew up around it on the high rise of the grassy cliffs overlooking the desert. To protect its citizens the rulers built exterior walls with large gates at each entry point. By the time we reached the outer walls, I was strapping my collection of weapons into their various places and pulling on my hood and mask. Waiting patiently until we passed into the darkness of the forest beyond, I pulled the curtain back, discreetly checking that there were no guards following us. That would have been something the real Lady Elnora Dewhorte would have fretted over, but I was pleased about it. Pushing my magic out, I felt for any presence surrounding us but was relieved to find only the two men seated at the front of the carriage. 

I pulled the mask over my nose, before popping open the door and reaching for the roof. Swinging myself around to the back of the carriage, I landed gracefully, my feet easily finding the back ledge. Over the curve of its roof, I saw the two men, one driving, and the other looking around the corner to see the door bouncing on its hinges. Moving quickly, I leaped onto the roof, took a step, and dropped down onto the foot bar beside him. He looked up at me in shock, unprepared for the knife I drove into his gut. 

Without stopping, I pulled myself onto the roof again and plopped down on the bench between the two men. The driver was already reaching for a weapon on his side, but I was faster, slipping a blade across his neck and pulling. The force snapped his head away from me, and he rolled out of the carriage in a spray of blood, reins still in hand. I had to lunge for them as he fell, to keep the horses from being yanked backward. The commotion spooked the horses, and I took a moment to steady the reins. 

There was a flash of metal in the moonlight beside me. Turning, I saw the first man had brandished a sword. He looked green in the face and slow-moving with one hand holding his stomach where the hilt of my knife protruded. I continued to coo to the horses as I watched him, his movements slow and labored. It was amazing that he could even hold up a sword in his condition, and I felt bad for him. Reaching out, I swiftly pulled the knife from his stomach, and a stream of blood and bile followed it. The knife dropped onto the floorboards, and his head slowly slumped to the side, eyes following me as it did. I felt the presence leave his body as it brushed by me, sending a chill down my spine. No matter how many deaths I witnessed, the feeling still hit me.

**

It had taken more time to carry the men’s bodies into the woods and call in scavengers to do away with them than I anticipated. Then I still had to clean the carriage and ride through the woods to a crossroads to re-enter the city through a different gate. I finally made it to Sayed Street just as the sky began to lighten. 

About halfway down the street, there was a large three story stucco building that housed a seamstress and tailor on the first floor, though no one with any sense came here for those services. I pulled the carriage down the lane beside the building, making sure my hood was pulled down over my eyes and the mask pulled up over my nose before pulling into a small barn at the back.  The two other horses inside snickered and stamped, but calmed at the coos of a young boy who popped out of the hay beside them. 

He said nothing and took to unhitching the sweaty beasts. I slid off the seat and retrieved my bag from the cabin before entering the building through the back. The back door opened up into a kitchen where several women in varying levels of undress lingered, smoking, and eating, their work for the evening coming to a close. They barely acknowledged me aside from one who pushed off from the counter where she was leaning and motioned for me to follow. 

Following her down the dark hallway I chuckled to myself at the contrast of her bare feet, and disheveled hair with the sophisticated dress, and string of expensive pearls she wore. I wondered vaguely which of the expensive gowns in the trunks out back she would take. She stopped at the door at the end of a hall and turned on me, leaning back against the wall. Knocking lazily, she took a long draw of her smoking stick and eyed me. 

“Come in,” said a muffled voice from the other side of the door. The woman reached out and turned the handle pushing the door open without moving from her spot against the wall. I stepped around her feet and entered, the door closing behind me.

The front room was bright as the light from the rising sun began to creep in through the large windows. Across the room, Sister Adelay sat up from a chaise. She was several years my senior, but magic had kept her looking young and beautiful. Standing and stepping forward, her copper curls bounced as she moved. She was wearing a dress of emerald green, the same color as her eyes. The fabric was as fine as anything the Queen’s ladies had, but it was pulled low to reveal the top of a front-laced corset, and ample cleavage. 

I moved across the room in three long strides, placing my hand in hers, both of us slipping two fingers into the cuff of the opposite sleeve, feeling for the single mark that all of the Sisters of Harridan carried: a small circular scar on the inside of the wrist. To anyone else, it looked like a common scar from pulling hot pans out of ovens, but when pressed, the hard flat presence of the stone beneath it became evident. 

These thin stones were inserted into our skin on the eve of our sixteenth birthdays when we reached the age of Ascension. The process was a testament to our strength, as well as a marker to identify who could be trusted throughout the world and the special handshake had become a customary way of greeting. 

I pushed the mask down but left my hood in place. “There is a royal carriage and horses in the stable, complete with clothing and jewelry suited for a lady in waiting. Just leave me a few in case there is a need to return.” 

“The girls will be glad to have them.” She smiled warmly and turned to a glass front armoire laden with bottles and crystal glassware beside the door. A moment later she came back holding one of the darker bottles. “The usual room is ready. Get some sleep Catherine, and we can discuss your plans in the morning.”

“Thank you” I returned the smile and replaced the bottle in her hand with a folded message. “For the tailor.” I winked and saw myself out. 

The usual room was one that was set aside for my sisters and I when traveling between missions and locations. Houses like this were created in nearly every eastern kingdom on the continent, each having a different front that explained the coming and going of various women like myself. The room here was in the attic space, which offered privacy and roof access, so we could come and go as needed. I trotted up the stairs with my bottle and found the room already litalight with candles. The fireplace was empty but as summer was winding down the room was more than warm enough. 

Minutes later I was washed clean, and laying on the bed in a soft nightgown. The sun had finally crested the distant mountains beyond as I placed the empty bottle by the bed and fell into a blissful sleep. 

**

I was woken around noon by Adelay with a tray of food and a hot cup of tea. I stretched luxuriously and accepted the tea with a smile. The older sister came to sit on the foot of the bed, tucking her bare feet beneath her, with the tray between us. Her dress had changed into a blue house dress, a bit more modest than the earlier attire. Her beautiful curls were pulled off of her face and piled on top of her head behind a long scarf wrapped around her head. 

“The tailor won’t be here till the day after tomorrow, but you are to stay until at least then,” she said, pilfering a slice of apple from the tray. 

The tailor was the nickname the sisters had given Rahmious Warder. He was one of the male warders who were in direct contact with Father, in our home on Wraithland. It was a warder’s job to not only supply the sisters with our missions, from Father, but also maintain our training and ensure our safety and health while we worked. Unfortunately, there were only a few warders who could physically cross the wall around Wraithland and come to the continent, so they often traveled between the houses and left the day-to-day management to the Tachdre sisters. Adelay had been the top-ranked Saithe when I came of ranking age and was moved to a Tachdre position a few years later, when her skills began to diminish with age.

I shrugged, blowing on the tea in my hands.I had been looking forward to getting home, but none of it was up to me. I would be as comfortable here as anywhere. “How are things here?” I said making conversation.

“Well enough I suppose,” she sighed. “Not much goes on around here, I rather miss going on missions and training with you lot.”

“Is there a place to train here?” I asked, grabbing a sausage biscuit from the tray.

She shook her head, curls shaking with the movement. “Sometimes I sneak off to the barn in the early morning, while the girls sleep. And Rahmious Shadowjumps us to the forest for a few hours a day when he’s here.” 

“Maybe I could give you some practice in the barn tomorrow. It’s been a good while for me.” 

She nodded understanding well the itch that crawls under your muscles during times of rest after a lifetime of physical activity.

“Are you glad to be going home after such a long time?” Her face was relaxed but I could see the appraisal in her eyes. My answer to this question mattered, for some reason, I couldn’t quite distinguish.

“Of course,” I said, watching her over the rim of my cup as I sipped. A shadow passed over her eyes, lasting only a moment before she shoved it away. Was she disappointed that I wanted to go back to our homeland? “I will miss the food here though,” I countered. She smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes.

“Things still hard to come by on the island?” 

“Better now that Moreanne has worked herself into a captain position.” 

“She has, has she?” Adelay’s face lit up, the freckles that peppered her cheeks straining. “That’s good news, for all of us.” 

Moreanne was a Tachdre, who had spent most of her time working with the handful of pirates who were willing to trade with Wraithland. It was a great risk since not only was the water treacherous around the island but many would be shunned by those on the continent if they found out. 

“Do you ever miss it? The island, I mean.” 

Adelay sighed, leaning back against the bedpost. “I miss my sisters, I miss training, but I don’t miss having every moment accounted for. There’s a freedom in my day-to-day that I didn’t know I was missing.” 

I tumbled the words around in my mind. There was a kind of freedom to be had here, without the ever-watchful eyes of warders and never-ending lists of chores. I had served the crown of Wraithland all my life, following the direction of those above me just as the rest of my sisters did. It was that direction though that kept everything running smoothly, kept us together. Father Pterol had taken all of us, his daughters, in and then given us a life on Wraithland that most could only dream of. We were fed well, taught well, and trained well. Physically and mentally we were exceptional among our people, able to take on the toughest warriors, and the greatest sorcerers, to be champions for our people. All so we could take back what was rightfully ours. We owed everything we had and everything we were to Father and the society he built.  

A shout came from downstairs and Adelay stood rolling her eyes. “And the work never ends. Enjoy your rest, Catherine.” She patted my foot hidden beneath the covers and sashayed to the door.